This superb hotel, Pousada de Palmela is part of a medieval castle, built
by the Moors. It is near Lisbon, the exciting capital city of Portugal.
Formerly headquarters and
Convent of the Order of Santiago, the building reconstruction has been
done in such a way as to preserve the dignity of its former use.
The cloisters remain intact
with the surrounding gallery and are now used as a quiet place for guests
to sit and read.
The former convent rooms
are now sitting rooms and the convent refectory is now the hotel dining
room.
The 15th Century church of
Santiago stands next to the Pousada. Its interior contains the sepulchre
of Jorge of Lencastre and a wall decorated with 17th and 18th Century tiles.
The accommodation comprises
15 standard bedrooms, 8 superior rooms and 5 suites all with private bathroom, air conditioning, Cable television, mini-bar, locker, hair dryer, telephone,
and writing desk.
Facilities include air conditioning,
lift, restaurant, bar, terrace, family games and parking.
Dining in Portugal is usually
very good and the restaurants of the Pousada group hotels are no exception.
They offer a variety of dishes including a selection of local and regional
specialities.
Small conferences can also
be held at this Pousada.
There is a small museum housing
archaeological finds within the site.
The region surrounding the
small hill town of Palmela is famous for its wine production and each September
the first grape harvest is celebrated with several festivals.
The local wine may be purchased
in the shops within the castle which also sell local cheese and handicrafts.
Situated to the west of Palmela
is Arrabida Natural Park which stretches to the Atlantic Ocean.
The park boasts a spectacular granite ridge and the area is a haven for
wildlife.
Six kilometres from Palmela
is the city of Setubal, Portugal's third largest port, and fish auctions
take place every morning at the harbour.
The Igreja (Church) de Jesus
in the old town is probably the first Manueline building in Portugal, and
its twisted granite pillars were hewn and transported from the Natural
Park.
The museum Michel Giacometti
contains a fascinating collection of ethnic tools once used by local artisans.
A trip to Setubal is a great
opportunity to take a boat trip on the Sado estuary to watch the bottle
nosed dolphins. The Sado estuary is the main rice growing area of Portugal.
The hilltop Pousada at Palmela
affords breathtaking 360º panoramic views and the tranquil cloisters
offer a haven of peace – the ideal place to relax with a glass of regional
muscatel wine after sampling the local seafood cuisine.
Activities that may be arranged
in the immediate vacinity include cruises on the River Sado, country walks,
mountain bike tours, four-wheel driving, hot air ballooning, micro lighting,
canoeing, paintball, golf, karting, four-wheel motorbikes and dolphin watching.
There are a number of excellent
golf courses in the area, please see Lisbon Golf courses for further
details.
The international airport
at Lisbon (Lisboa) is approximately 41 kilometers from this Pousada of
Portugal.
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